News

Given the current and predicted weather conditions, BC Wildfire Service is encouraging members of the public and industry personnel to exercise caution when conducting any outdoor burning.

Anyone conducting an outdoor burn must adhere to the following precautions:

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A Committee of the Whole meeting of the Peace River Regional District Board will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2021. The regular meeting of the Peace River Regional District Board will follow immediately.  Please visit the Agendas/Minutes page on our website to view the Agenda Cover Pages.

Board meetings are currently closed to the public due to COVID-19, but members of the public are invited to watch the meeting on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPRRD/

The Peace River Regional District has partnered with Clear Course Consulting Ltd. to offer free virtual information sessions for community groups to learn more about the Grant Writer Services Program.

If you are interested in understanding how grants work, turning project ideas into grant applications, searching for grants and understanding types of funders and grants the PRRD encourages you to attend one of the two sessions being offered.

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Following the landslides of 2018 and 2020 which affected access to the community of Old Fort, the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) committed to providing residents with a comprehensive report to identify and characterize any hazards and risks from nearby steep slopes and guide future development approvals. The report was to be completed by Tetra Tech, a leading provider of engineering services worldwide.

On October 26, 2020, the PRRD announced that it would release the Tetra Tech report in the first quarter of 2021. On January 19, 2021, the PRRD, along with others, was sued by residents of the Old Fort community. On the advice of the PRRD’s legal counsel, Tetra Tech’s work on the report has been paused while legal counsel reviews and responds to the lawsuit. Given the nature of this ongoing litigation, the PRRD cannot commit to a date for the release of the Tetra Tech report. The PRRD will not be making any further statement or comment on this matter at this time.

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) is planning how to use a combined $1,084,000 received in 2020 and earlier this week under the provincial government’s COVID-19 Safe Restart Grants for Local Governments program.
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March 4, 2021 — The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) Electoral Area Directors Committee is recommending that the PRRD Regional Board authorize closure and ceasing of operations of the Rose Prairie potable water bulk fill station at its upcoming March 11 meeting.

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Northern Health has announced that it is completing Phase 1 immunizations this month, and moving into vaccinations for Phase 2.

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The PRRD’s Rose Prairie water station will not open tomorrow (Monday, February 22) as planned because of unforeseen technical problems. We apologize for the inconvenience and delay; we will open the station as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

We are aware of the social media post by Lorraine Michetti, who is a member of the Peace River Regional District Board of Directors. As Chair of the Board of Directors, I wish to clearly state that we find the sentiment in the post deeply troubling. This was posted to a personal Facebook account. The post does not in any way reflect the views of the Peace River Regional District and we wholeheartedly reject the message contained in it.

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A letter asking for the highest level of consideration set out in the ‘Environmental Assessment Certificate and Exemption Order Amendment Policy’ has been sent to the BC Environmental Assessment Office from PRRD Chair Brad Sperling. The Chair advocates for a paced process to allow for meaningful input, research and analysis and fair consideration of all input concerning the plan to haul material by truck from 85^th Avenue to the Site C Project dam site.

Read the letter here

PRRD Chair Brad Sperling has sent a letter to BC Hydro outlining the PRRD’s concerns regarding Hydro’s recently announced plan to haul material by truck from 85^th Avenue industrial lands to the Site C Project dam site area.

Read the letter here

As part of the construction for BC Hydro’s Site C project, BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) approvals were granted for the use of a conveyor system to move dam construction material from the 85th Ave. Industrial Lands to the dam construction site.

BC Hydro is now planning to apply to the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) for an amendment to the project’s approval in order to haul this material in dump trucks by public road in the event the conveyor system is shut down.

Additional facts about the proposed changes:

• Hauling material by truck will occur a minimum of 1 day per month, and will possibly occur up to 7 months per year from 2021 through 2023.
• When road hauling occurs, there will be up to 122 trucks per hour between 7 am and 7 pm (except during school bus hours) travelling this proposed route
• This works out to 1 truck passing any point on the roads every 30 seconds.
• Haul trucks will be typical dump trucks seen on public roads, such as those pictured below

Peace River Regional District Position on the Proposed Changes

The Peace River Regional District (PRRD) Board and staff are very concerned about the traffic, dust, noise, nuisances and increased disturbance to residents that hauling from 85th Ave. Industrial Lands would cause.

This notice to residents is the first step in our response. Your Board will be making submissions to the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO), with a copy to BC Hydro, and will work to ensure that residents have a full opportunity to provide input.

Please watch for further information and opportunities to provide your input.

Any questions or inquiries regarding the pending application should be referred to:

Site C Project Team
Email: sitec@bchydro.com
Tel: 250-785-3420
Toll Free: 877-217-0777

If you provide comments to BC Hydro, please copy PRRD on your submission at: communications@prrd.bc.ca
If sending by mail, contact: 250-784-3200

Download and Print the Notice Here

The Proposed Charlie Lake Fire Services Expansion Petition results have now been posted. There is a +/-20% in favour response for the proposed expansion of the Charlie Lake Fire Department to include Road Rescue and First Medical Response Services. Section 337 (3) of the Local Government Act states that in order for a petition to be certified as sufficient, it must be signed by the owners of at least 50% of the parcels that in total represent 50% of the net taxable value of all land and improvements within the service area, and Section 212 (4-6) of the Community Charter states that the corporate officer must determine the validity and sufficiency of a petition to the Board, and certify this determination.

As there were less than 50% of the property owners in favour of expansion of the Charlie Lake Fire Department to include either first medical responder services or road rescue services, the petitions failed.

You can find more information about the petition that was held by reading the report on the January 14, 2021 Regional Board Meeting Agenda.

Please be advised that until further notice the PRRD Share Sheds will be closed to help flatten the curve of COVID-19.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.  If you have any questions please call the PRRD at 250-784-3200 or toll free at 1-800-670-7773

Due to the new province-wide restrictions put in place on November 19, 2020, masks are now required by everyone who enters Peace River Regional District offices and facilities. It is our responsibility to follow public health orders. Thank you for your compliance. View the full public health order at on the Province of BC website

The Peace River Regional District released a letter sent to the parties with candidates running in the upcoming BC election asking for assistance to negotiate a community measures agreement to mitigate the impacts of Site C on regional district residents and services.

Letters were sent to candidates and parties in the Peace River North and South ridings on October 16, 2020. The PRRD Board of Directors looks forward to hearing from candidates on their parties’ views ahead of the October 24 BC provincial election.

For more information:

Click here to read Letter to Candidates

Click here to read the Media Release

Click here to read PRRD Site C Community Measures Agreement Background Information

The City of Fort St. John and the Peace River Regional District have been working in partnership towards an adjustment of property lines for the Festival Plaza Development.

The Festival Plaza, which will be located on the southeast corner of 100 Street and 96 Avenue, was identified in the Downtown Action Plan as one of 10 Big Moves to Energize the Downtown. The development will consist of a covered shelter, food truck stalls, performance space and washrooms. It will be a year-round home for the farmers market, community events, food vendors, buskers, social gatherings and public art.

The Peace River Regional District will be placing public notices as per the requirements of the Local Government Act regarding the disposition of this property.

Construction on this project is slated to begin in Summer 2020, stay up-to-date with all City of Fort St. John Capital Projects at www.fortstjohn.ca/capital-projects.

To see the full press release, please click the link below.

Media Release – City and PRRD Announce Agreement for Festival Plaza Lands

The Peace River Regional District is pleased to release the 2019 Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program (CARIP) report.

Click here to read the report

PRRD offices are now open to the public with new procedures to keep both the public and our staff safe!

Quick Reference Guides

Camping and Recreating in PRRD Parks

Operating a PRRD-owned Community Facility

Renting a PRRD-owned Community Facility

Using PRRD Water Stations

Taking Items to Landfills and Transfer Stations

Making a Development Application

Using the Charlie Lake Sewer Receiving Facility

Attending a Board or Committee Meeting

Frequently Asked Questions About PRRD Operations

How do I speak to or make an appointment with staff?

Peace River Regional District offices are now open for their regular office hours. To speak to one of our staff, the public is welcome to come to our offices during business hours or may also use our staff directory to reach any of our staff members.

What are the PRRD Office COVID procedures?

The PRRD has introduced new safety procedures to ensure that everyone who visits our office are as safe as possible. These new procedures include:

• Everyone entering PRRD facilities must sanitize their hands when they come in.
• Each room, including meeting rooms and reception areas, have a maximum occupancy to ensure we are able to follow social distancing. If the occupancy is exceeded, please wait outside until someone exits.
• An information log will be kept of all people to enter PRRD offices to help with contact tracing should someone who has been in our offices discover they have COVID-19.

How many people are allowed in PRRD Offices?

The number of people allowed in a room/building has been determined by the size and ability to ensure physical distancing (staying a minimum of two metres or six feet apart).

• The maximum number of public members permitted in the Fort St John Office Reception Area: 2
• The maximum number of public public members permitted in the Dawson Creek Office Reception Area: 3 

When will PRRD facilities be opening?

As all of BC begins to implement the BC Restart Plan, the Peace River Regional District will be taking steps towards recovery with the new PRRD COVID Recovery Plan. We are currently in Phase Two of the PRRD Recovery Plan, which sees a number of facilities open.

Phase 1 (Mid – Late May 2020)

Staff resume work in Dawson Creek and Fort St John offices Montney Centennial Park and Iver Johnson Park opens for day-use only

Phase 2 ( June to September 2020)

PRRD offices open to the public Charlie Lake Fire members resume in-person training with conditions PRRD community halls may resume maintenance and cleaning activities with conditions. Essential public hearings, on a case by case basis, may resume in-person if electronic options are not available and if ap propriate meeting venues and sanitization requirements can be met Blackfoot Regional Park opens for camping. Share Sheds Open (as of June 15)   Minaker River Regional Park opens for camping PRRD will consider, on a case by case basis, community halls holding small events with less than 50 people (starting in July)   Chetwynd Recreation Centre and North Peace Leisure Pool will open under the direction of the municipalities. Buick and Clearview Arenas will open at the direction of School District No 60 Essential in-region travel

Phase 3 (TBD)

Date to be determined dependent on public health, social and economic factors to be examined starting in August 2020 Non-essential meetings Public engagement activities In-person engagement with First Nations communities Out-of-region travel

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The PRRD is continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation. We encourage residents to stay up to date and continue to follow the provincial and federal Government guidelines as the official sources for new information. Below are some resources that may be helpful for residents:

BC Centre for Disease Control    |  Website    Facebook

Northern Health    |  Website    Facebook

Northern BC Information Line: 1-844-645-7811

Government of Canada – Public Health    |   Website     Facebook

Health Link BC (BC Ministry of Health)    |   Website     Facebook

First Nations Health Authority    |   Website     Facebook

BC 211    |   Website     Facebook

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The Partnership Agreement between the Province of BC, Government of Canada, Saulteau First Nations, and West Moberly First Nations for the recovery of southern mountain caribou was signed on Friday, February 21, 2020.

Read More: Southern Mtn. Caribou Partnership Agreement Signed

At the January 23rd Board Meeting, the PRRD Board received a response to their December 13th Letter from Premier John Horgan and resolved:

That the Regional Board support the District of Chetwynd by advising the Honourable John Horgan, Premier of BC, that it will not participate in the following scheduled caribou related working group meetings:

• Snowmobile Advisory Committee (January 23, 2020 in Dawson Creek)
• Land Use Objectives Stakeholder Committee & Socio-Economic Advisory Committee (January 24, 2020 in Chetwynd) unless local government is awarded a seat on the Caribou Recovery Committee specified in the Partnership Agreement to Recover the Central Group of Southern Mountain Caribou, or a meeting of the Leaders’ Table is called and local government is provided information that local government will be provided the opportunity to participate in the Partnership Agreement, other than through separate advisory committees.

This resolution was sent in a letter to Premier John Horgan on January 23rd, 2020.

Notice on Production Insurance – Unharvested Grain and Canola Crops from the Ministry of Agriculture

October 24th, 2019

Dear Premier Horgan:

Re: Leaders’ Table re: Caribou

On October 10^th, the Peace River Regional District wrote to you to express extreme disappointment that the Board did not receive an invitation to participate in the proposed Leaders’ Table regarding the Draft Intergovernmental Partnership Agreement for the Conservation of the Central Group of the Southern Mountain Caribou. . . .

Click Here to Read the Full Letter

Click here to read the letter from Chair Brad Sperling on behalf of the PRRD Board to Hon. Minister McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Hon. Minister Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, regarding the community division caused by the Southern Mountain Caribou engagement process. 

The Peace River Regional District continues to advocate for an open conversation between the public and the Province regarding the status of the discussions about caribou recovery.

In a letter to Chair Brad Sperling, Minister George Heyman confirmed that the government is committed to advancing caribou recovery, while seeking to provide for the best interests of British Columbians. He noted that to help this iconic species recover, there needs to be a collaborative approach that works for everyone, and that as the Provincial Government moves forward with caribou recovery, BC will be looking at the impacts of all land uses.

Since the meeting in Prince George with the Province, Chair Sperling has continued to be in contact with the province as they work with the Federal government to roll out the consultation to the region. Chair Sperling has requested that a minimum of three public consultations be held in the region. He would like to see meetings held in Chetwynd, Dawson Creek and Fort St. John.

Full Media release here: 2019-15-2019 Caribou Press release